Popular PKR leaders told to contest in Malay-majority, rural seats

PKR leaders are being told to leave safe urban constituencies and contest in Malay-majority, rural seats in the 15th general election.

Alor Setar MP Chan Ming Kai, who is among 17 candidates vying for one of the four PKR vice-president posts in the upcoming party polls said: “As a multiracial party, PKR should not only contest in the racially mixed and urban seats that have already received a mandate from the people in the previous elections

"PKR should be able to explore Malay-majority seats and rural seats," he said in a statement today.

"PKR leaders, particularly those who are highly popular, should be brave enough to explore the rural constituencies that have yet to be won instead of remaining in safe seats in the cities that have plenty of non-Malay voters," he said without naming any PKR leader.

He pointed out that the racial composition of a seat should not be the sole determining factor as in the recent Johor state election non-Malay candidates from BN had won in Malay-majority areas.

"Therefore, PKR should be more progressive in terms of the racial diversity narrative and conduct experiments and exploration of this narrative," added Chan.

Chan, a student activist-turned-politician from Ipoh, Perak said he sought permission from the party to contest in the northernmost state in the peninsula to make inroads into new territory.

The 42-year-old won the Indera Kayangan state constituency in the 2013 general election by 1,092 votes. Prior to that, he served as the Simpang Pulai state assemblyperson between 2008 and 2013.

Candidates contesting the four PKR vice-president posts include Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, Wanita chief Fuziah Salleh, former Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, party organising secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, communications director Fahmi Fadzil, and PKR central leadership member Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid. - Mkini